Spreader roll adjustment mechanism



Oct 19 H. R. PATTERSON, JR 3,345,895

SPREADER ROLL ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 5, 1965 LWENIUR. Henry 8 zQvfer-saz; r/r.

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United States Patent 3,345,895 SPREADER ROLL ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM Henry R. Patterson, J12, West Chester, Pa., assignor to Beloit Eastern Corporation, Downington, Pa., :1 corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 506,155 15 Claims. (Cl. 83105) This invention relates to a spreader roll adjustment mechanism for a paper or web winding machine and in particular to an adjustment mechanism which provides a single control for adjusting the translational positioning of a spreader roll and for proportionally adjusting the attitude of the roll relative to' the passing web.

In a paper Iwinding machine aslitting apparatus is usually employed ahead of winder drums for the purpose of dividing the web into a number of longitudinal strips;

These strips may then besremoved from the drum and applied to consumer type rolls or the like.

In such an arrangement'it is important that the individual strips reach the winder drumsin such a manner as not to overlap one another. To assure this result a spreader roll has been employed between the slitting device and the winding drums and serves to keep the individual strips separated. V

The spreader roll essentially is a bowed roll which provides a convex type profile to the passing strips. Such a profile provides increasing tension for the web toward the center of the roll and therefore tends to move the individual strips outwardly therefrom for performing the spreading function.

In addition to separating individual strips of the web prior to reaching the winder drums, the convex profile of the spreader roll aids in removing wrinkles from the web of wrap upon the roll and by altering the relative position ing of the roll a vis the winder drums. It is apparent, therefore, that for different types of webs,'the positioning of the spreader roll may be required to be altered.

Heretofore, changing the positioning of the spreader roll has required halting the machine operation and using two men at opposite sides of the machine to loosenlocking bolts and reset the roll at a new location. In addition, the angle or attitude of the bow must be changed for every new location of the roll to maintain an optimum spreading characteristic for the web.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an adjustment mechanism for thespreader roll which is more eflicient and effective in terms of labor costs and lost machine operating time.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an adjustment mechanism for a spreader roll which is capable of altering the positioning of the roll while the winding machine is in operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a spreader roll adjustment mechanism which may be remotely positioned from the spreader roll and which may be operated by a single worker.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a spreader roll adjustment mechanism which has a single adjustment control for altering the translational positioning of the spreader roll and for simultaneously changing the attitude of the bow to compensate for a change translational positioning. 1

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an adjustment mechanism for a spreader roll which simultaneously alters the translational and rotational positioning of the roll and which incorporates an independent adjustment device for changing the attitude of the bow without affecting the translational location of the roll.

3,345,895 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will he understood in greater detail from the following description and the associated drawings wherein reference numerals are utilized in designating a preferred embodiment and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a winding machine incorporating the spreader roll adjustment mechanism of this invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the winding machine as shown in FIGURE 1.

The adjustment mechanism of this invention comprises generally a roll bracket which supports a spreader roll between a slitting device and winding drums. The roll bracket is, in turn, supported by a series of linkages which are pivotally mounted above and below the plane of the moving web. These linkages are provided to have a chosen length and are properly positioned relative to the passing web such that any motion of the roll bracket and, hence, of the spreader roll is confined to be such that the translational and rotational movement of the roll is proportional.

FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate the operation of the adjustment mechanism of this invention and are partly diagrammatic as many features of the winding machine associated with the spreader roll mechanism are omitted for the purpose of clarity. The winding machine itself may be indicated by the reference numeral 10. As shown in FIGURE 1, winder drums 11 and 12 are rotatably mounted on the machine 10 and a spool 13 is deployed between the drums 11 and 12 for receiving a paper web 14. The web 14 is wound about the spool 13 through the winding action of the drums 11 and 12 as is well understood.

The web or sheet 14 is fed to the winder mechanism after passing through shear slitters consisting of a slitting blade 15 and a bottom slitter band 16. The sheet 14 after passing through the slitters 15 and 16" is divided into a number of longitudinal strips which must be wound on the spool 13 in separated rolls. To assure this separation, a spreader roll and the associated spreader adjustment mechanism of this invention is deployed between the slitter device and the winder mechanism.

Generally, a spreader roll 17 is supported by spreader brackets 18 which are disposed at opposite ends of the roll and which, in turn, are supported by a number of linkages mounted at the winding machine 10. The roll 17 is provided with an end shaft 19 which is journalled within the bracket 18 as at 20. The bracket 18 is then carried by the winding machine 10 through an adjustment arm 21 and a link 22.

The adjustment arm 21 is secured to the roll bracket 18 at an outwardly extending flange 23. The arm 21 is joined to the flange 23 at a shoulder bolt 24 which provides the necessary pivotal action between the bracket 18 and the arm 21. Similarly, the arm 21 is mounted at a support block 25 which is, in turn, rigidly secured to the winding machine 10. A shoulder bolt 26 is provided between the arm 21 and the support block 25 and thereby provides joint pivotal action between the block 25 and the roll bracket 18. j

The link 22 is supported in a similar manner to the attachment of the arm 21. A flange 27 is formed oppositely of the flange 23 of the roll bracket 18 and connects to the link 22 at'a shoulder bolt 28. As in the case of the arm 21 a second pivotal support is provided to the winding machine 10 for the link 22. The second pivotal support takes the form of a pillow block 29 which is fixedly attached to the machine 10 and which has a shaft 30 journalled within a sleeve 31. The shaft 30 extends substantially parallel to the spreader roll 17 and extends to the opposite side of the winding machine 10 for actuating a similar set of linkages and brackets to those in- 3 dicatedin FIGURES 1 and 2. Therefore, the spreader roll 17 is carried between the slitter and winder mechanisms by roll brackets and associated linkages which are firmly connected 'at both ends of the roll and which therefore may be operated by a single control device.

The control device used in this invention consists of an extension rod 32 which is geared between the movable link 22 and the immovable machine 10. Specifically, the rod 32 has a threaded end 33 which is received witin an internally threaded collar 34. The collar 34 is, in turn, pivotally mounted at the link 22 by a shoulder bolt connection 35. The pivotal connection of the collar 34 to the link 22 allows relative angular motion between the link 22 and the extension rod 32 which is required due to angular movement of the link 22 about the pivotal connection provided by the shaft 30.

Similarly, a fixture 36 is rigidly connected to the winding machine via bolts 37 and has secured thereto a roll swivel bracket 38. The bracket 38 supports a collar 39 similar to the collar 34 and the extension rod 32 is journalled within the collar 39 to have a fixed axial position relative to the machine 10. In addition, the positioning of the extension rod 32 may be secured by a hand knob 40 which is mounted at the upper surface of the collar 39 and which has a threaded pin 41 extending through the collar 39 for abutting the outer surface of the rod 32.

The extension rod 32 is provided with a hand wheel 42 which is fixedly secured by a set screw 43. Rotation of the rod 32, via the hand wheel 42, will cause the internally threaded surface of the collar 34 to advance about the threaded rod end 33 for urging the adjustment link 22 into a clockwise rotational motion. An adjustment screw stop 44 is provided at the extremity of the rod 32 to limit the clockwise rotation of the link 22. It is understood that angular movement of the link 22 will move the roll bracket 18 for generating counterclockwise rotational motion to the adjustment arm 21.

A second location for the suspended spreader roll assembly is indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1. It is apparent from that figure that the translation of the spreader roll from the first to the second location will alter the degree of wrap of the sheet 14 about the bowed. surface, of the roll. To maintain optimum spreading conditions at the roll surface, the attitude of the bow, therefore, must be compensated for the translational eifects of moving the roll vis a vis the positioning of the slitter and winder mechanisms.

This compensation, however, is provided automatically by the linkage arrangement of this invention. In particular, the provision for the arm 21 and the link 22 which are connected above and below the web 14 to the roll bracket 18; provides a fixed path of movement for the roll which is both translational and rotational. By adjusting the positioning of the pivotal connections, the lengths of the linkages, and the spacing between the flanges 23 and 27 of the roll bracket 18 any desired ratio of translation and rotation can be obtained. Furthermore, the entire system will be constrained through the same path for repeated movements of the control device which in this case is the extension rod 32. Therefore, by adjusting the rod 32 the wrap of the web 14 about the spreader roll 17 can be altered while automatically maintaining an optimum relationship between the attitude of the bow and the sheet run.

While for most operating conditions, the single adjustment of the extension rod 32 at the hand wheel 42 will provide the required translation and angular com-v pensation of the spreader roll, it may be desirable to alter the attitude of the roll relative to the web. This adjustment may be required to compensate for variations in the sheet material and in the number of strips resulting from the slitter mechanism or from other conditions which tend to develop non-uniform tensions across the surface of the sheet.

For this purpose, an independent adjustment mechanism is provided and consists of a curved arm member 45 which is fixedly secured about the shaft 19 at a point 46. A turnbuckle 47 is then provided between the arm 45 and the flange 23 of the roll bracket 18. The turnbuckle consists of oppositely directed pins 48 and 49 extending from pivotal connections 50 and 51 at the arm 45 and the bracket 18 respectively. The pins 48 and 49 are threadedly received within a sleeve 52 as is well understood, and a hand wheel 53 is provided to turn the sleeve 52 thereby changing the angular relationship between the arm 45 and the roll bracket 18. However, since the arm 45 is rigidly secured to the spreader roll 17 at the shaft 19, the angular relationship of the spreader roll relative to the bracket 18 is changed by altering the setting of the turnbuckle 47. Therefore, the spreader roll adjustment mechanism of this invention not only provides a single control for altering the translational positioning of the roll relative to the winder drum and slitter band while proportionately changing the attitude of the roll relative to the web, but also provides an independent means for altering the attitude of the roll to compensate for environmental changes or characteristics in the sheet material.

Two scale devices are provided to provide a measure of the angular and translational positioning of the spreader 011. One measuring device consists of an angle gauge 54 which is secured to the bracket 18 via bolt 55. In connection with the gauge 54, a pointer or indicator 56 is provided from the spreader roll 17 and is geared for registering the angle of the'roll at the gauge 54. A second measuring device takes the form of an adjustment scale 57 which is provided for indicating the positioning of the spreader roll between the winder drum and slitter band. The scale 57 may be securely mounted to the machine 10, while a cooperable pointer such as the angle gauge 54 may be mounted to the roll bracket 18 for regi'stering the positioning the spreader roll.

It is understood that various modifications of the embodiment disclosed herein may be accomplished by those skilled in the art, and I desire to claim all such modifications as properly come within the scope and spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roll bracket for supporting a spreader roll on a paper winding machine,

a support block fixedly positioned relative to an associated; winding machine,

an adjustment arm extending from said support block to said roll bracket and being pivotally connected therebetween,

an adjustment rod connected to said roll bracket for varying: the positioning thereof relative to an associated winding machine, means for holding said roll bracket in any selectable position. 2. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roll bracket having first and second end sections for supporting a spreader roll therebetween,

said roll bracket being supported for having pivotal and translational mobility relative to a windv ing machine pertaining thereto,

adjustment linkages connected to said roll bracket for constraining the movement thereof to conform to a predetermined path having fixed pivotal and translational motions, w an adjustment means connected to said roll bracket for simultaneously shifting the position of said first and second end sections,

means for holding said roll bracket in any selectable position.

v 3., A spreader adjustment mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein said adjustment means in combination with said adjustment linkages causes a roll within said roll bracket to translate and rotate proportionally for maintaining a substantially constant attitude relative to a paper web associated therewith.

4. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roll bracket for supporting a spreader roll on a Web winding machine,

first and second support blocks fixedly positioned relative to an associated winding machine,

first and second adjustment arms extending respectively from said first and second support blocks to said roll bracket,

said roll bracket being carried by said adjustment arms substantially intermediate said support blocks,

said adjustment arms being pivotally mounted to said roll bracket at one end thereof and to said respective support blocks at the other end,

an adjustment rod connected to said roll bracket for varying the positioning thereof relative to an associated winding machine,

means for holding said roll bracket in any selectable position.

5. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roll bracket for supporting a spreader roll on a paper winding machine,

a support block fixedly positioned above and a pillow block fixedly positioned below said roll bracket,

said roll bracket having attachment flanges extending outwardly at opposite saides thereof,

an adjustment link pivotally mounted at said pillow block and pivotally connected to a first of said attachment flanges,

a spreader roll armpivotally mounted at said support block and pivotally connected to the second of said attachment flanges, V

' said roll bracket being carried by said adjustment link and spreader roll arm substantially intermediate said support block and pillow block and being constrained into a rotational and translational motion by the pivotal swing of said connected adjustment link and spreader roll arm,

an adjustment rod connected to said roll bracket for varying the positioning thereof relative to an associated winding machine,

means for holding said roll bracket in any selectable position.

6. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism as described in claim 5 wberein the positioning of said support and pillow blocks, the lengths of said adjustment link and spreader roll arm, and the distance between said attachment flanges is adjusted to cause a spreader roll as carried by said roll bracket to maintain a substantially constant attitude while being translated relative to a web associated therewith.

7. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism as described in claim 5 wherein a first adjustment collar is internally threaded and pivotally mounted at said adjustment link, a second adjustment collar is pivotally mounted at a fixed point in spaced relation with said first collar, said adjustment rod is rotatably received within said second collar and is axially motion limited therein, said adjustment rod is threaded within said first collar, whereby rotation of said adjustment rod causes translation of said first collar which in turn rotates said adjustment link for shifting the setting of a roll as carried within said roll bracket.

8. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roll bracket for supporting a spreader roll on a web winding machine,

first and second support blocks fixedly positoned relative to an associated winding machine,

first and second adjustment arms extending respectively from said first and second support blocks to said roll bracket,

said roll bracket being carried by said adjustment 6 arms substantially intermediate said support blocks,

said adjustment arms being pivotally mounted to said roll bracket at one end thereof and to said respective support blocks at the other end,

a first adjustment collar threaded internally and pivotally mounted at one of said adjustment arms,

a second adjustment collar pivotally mounted at a fixed point in spaced relation with said first collar,

an adjustment rod rotatably received within said second collar and axially motion limited therein,

said adjustment rod being threaded within said first collar,

whereby the position of said roll bracket is varied by rotating said adjustment rod.

9. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roll bracket for supporting a spreader roll ona web binding machine,

first and second support blocks fixedly positioned relative to an associated winding machine,

first and second adjustment arms extending respectively from said first and second support blocks to said roll bracket,

said roll bracket being carried by said adjustment arms substantially intermediate said support blocks,

said adjustment arms being pivotally mounted to said roll bracket at one end thereof and to said respective support blocks at the other end,

an adjustment rod connected to said roll bracket for varying the positioning thereof relative to an associated winding machine,

means for holding said roll bracket in any selectable position,

means independent of said adjustment arms for varying the angular position of a roll as carried by said roll bracket.

10. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism as described in claim 9 wherein said independent adjustment means comprises:

means for rotatably receiving 'a spreader roll at said roll bracket,

an independent adjustment link for being lockably received by a spreader roll as received within said roll bracket,

means for selectably positioning the angular setting of said independent adjustment link relative to said roll bracket.

11. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roll bracket for supporting a spreader roll on a paper winding machine,

a support block fixedly positioned above and a pillow block fixedly positioned below said roll bracket,

said roll bracket having attachment flanges extending outwardly at opposite sides thereof,

, an adjustment link pivotally mounted at said pillow block and pivotally connected to a first of said attachment flanges,

a spreader roll arm pivotally mounted at said support block and pivotally connected to the second of said attachment fianges,

said roll bracket being carried by said adjustment link and spreader roll arm substantially intermediate said support block and pillow block and being constrained into a rotational and translational motion by the pivotal swing of said connected adjustment link and spreader roll arm,

an adjustment rod connected to said roll bracket for varying the positioning thereof relative to an associated winding machine,

means for holding said roll bracket in any selectable position,

means for rotatably receiving a spreader roll at said roll bracket,

an independent adjustment link for being lockably received by a spreader roll as received within said roll bracket, and

a turnbuckle pivotally mounted between said independent adjustment link and one of said attachment flanges,

whereby adjustment of said turnbuckle causes an angular movement of a spreader roll as mounted at said roll bracket.

12. A spreader roll adjustment mechanism com-prisnig:

a roll bracket for supporting a spreader roll on a paper winding machine,

a support block fixedly positioned above and a pillow block fixedly positioned below said roll bracket,

said roll bracket having attachment flanges extending outwardly at opposite sides thereof, an adjustment link pivotally mounted at said pillow block and pivotally connected to a first of said attachment flanges,

a spreader roll arm pivotally mounted at said support block and pivotally connected to the second of said attachment flanges,

said roll bracket being carried by said adjustment link and spreader roll arm substantially intermediate said support block and pillow block and being constrained into a rotational and translational motion by the pivotal swing of said connected adjustment link and spreader roll arm, means for rotatably receiving a spreader roll at said roll bracket,

an independent adjustment link for being lockably received by a spreader roll as received within said roll bracket,

a turnbuckle pivotally mounted between said independent adjustment link and one of said attachment flanges,

whereby adjustment of said turnbuckle causes an angular movement of a spreader roll as mounted at said roll bracket,

a first adjustment collar threaded internally and pivotally mounted at said adjustment link,

a second adjustment collar pivotally mounted at a fixed point in spaced relation with said first collar,

an adjustment rod rotatably received within said second collar and axially motion limited therein,

said adjustment rod being threaded within said first collar, whereby the position of said roll bracket is varied by rotating said adjustment rod.

13. In a web winding machine having means for feeding a web therethrough, winding means for Winding the web on a hub, slitter means for dividing a web into a number of longitudinal segments prior to being received by the winding means, and a spreader roll operably disposed between the slitter means and the Winding means, a spreader roll adjustment mechanism comprising:

a roll bracket supporting a spreader roll thereon, ad-

justment linkages suspending said roll bracket between a slitter and a winding means,

said adjustment linkages pivotally connected to said roll bracket and constraining said roll bracket to move in a predetermined path between a slitter and winding means,

control means attached to said linkages for regulating the positioning of said roll bracket and hence of a spreader roll relative to a web passing between a slitter and a winder means,

said roll bracket being constrained by said linkages to have a translational and a rotational motion which is proportional for maintaining a substantially constant attitude of a spreader roll relative to a web moving from a slitter to a winding means.

14. The combination of a web Winding machine comprising:

a winder means for winding a web on a hub,

a slitter means for dividing a web into a number of longitudinal segments,

a web moving from said slitter means to said winder means,

a spreader roll operably disposed between said slitter means and said winder means,

a roll bracket attached to said spreader roll, first and second support blocks fixedly positioned relative to said machine,

first and second adjustment arms extending respectively from said first and second support blocks to said roll bracket,

said roll bracket being carried by said adjustment arms substantially intermediate said support blocks, said adjustment arms being pivotally mounted to said roll bracket at one end thereof and to said respective support blocks at the other end, control means for moving said adjustment arms and thereby adjusting the position of said roll relative to said web and to said winder means.

15. The combination as described in claim 14 wherein the length and positioning of said adjustment arms is selected to constrain said spreader roll to have translational and proportional rotational motion for maintaining a substantially constant attitude for said spreader roll relative to said web and wherein an independent adjustment means is provided for altering the attitude of said spreader roll relative to said web without affecting said adjustment arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1963' Moser 83-105 X 

1. A SPREADER ROLL ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM COMPRISING: A ROLL BRACKET FOR SUPPORTING A SPREADER ROLL ON A PAPER WINDING MACHINE, A SUPPORT BLOCK FIXEDLY POSITIONED RELATIVE TO AN ASSOCIATED WINDING MACHINE, AN ADJUSTMENT ARM EXTENDING FROM SAID SUPPORT BLOCK TO SAID ROLL BRACKET AND BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED THEREBETWEEN, AN ADJUSTMENT ROD CONNECTED TO SAID ROLL BRACKET FOR VARYING THE POSITIONING THEREOF RELATIVE TO AN ASSOCIATED WINDING MACHINE, MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID ROLL BRACKET IN ANY SELECTABLE POSITION. 